A freshman student is an individual who has completed or will complete high school, home school, or a GED by the time he or she enrolls at Columbia, and who has not earned college credit after high school.

A transfer student is an individual who, after the completion of high school, home school or GED has earned some credit at another accredited college or university but has not yet earned a bachelor's degree.

A graduate student is an individual who already has a bachelor’s degree (or is nearly finished with one) and are interested in earning a Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts Management, or Master of Arts in Teaching.